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Amnesty Says RSF Committed Ethnic Cleansing in Sudan

Abubakr Alsawi, right, waits during the exhumation of his brother Mohammed Alsawi, 73, who was killed in 2023 by the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces in Omdurman, on the outskirts of Khartoum, Sudan, Monday, April 20, 2026. (AP)
Abubakr Alsawi, right, waits during the exhumation of his brother Mohammed Alsawi, 73, who was killed in 2023 by the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces in Omdurman, on the outskirts of Khartoum, Sudan, Monday, April 20, 2026. (AP)
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Amnesty Says RSF Committed Ethnic Cleansing in Sudan

Abubakr Alsawi, right, waits during the exhumation of his brother Mohammed Alsawi, 73, who was killed in 2023 by the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces in Omdurman, on the outskirts of Khartoum, Sudan, Monday, April 20, 2026. (AP)
Abubakr Alsawi, right, waits during the exhumation of his brother Mohammed Alsawi, 73, who was killed in 2023 by the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces in Omdurman, on the outskirts of Khartoum, Sudan, Monday, April 20, 2026. (AP)

The Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) committed crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing during their attack on el-Fashir city between 2024 and 2025, Amnesty International alleged Wednesday.

Sudan has been mired since April 2023 in a brutal war between the army and the RSF, which has killed tens of thousands and forced millions to flee, according to the United Nations.

Both sides have been accused of atrocities, with a UN independent fact-finding mission in February concluding that the 2025 assault on el-Fashir bore the "hallmarks of genocide".

Amnesty's wide-ranging report found that the RSF "committed crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing during its campaign to seize el-Fashir".

The NGO interviewed 247 victims or witnesses between early 2024 and October 2025 in North Darfur.

It said the RSF systematically attacked settlements around el-Fashir which housed the Zaghawa people, an ethnic group in western Darfur.

The report alleged widespread and deliberate violence against children including killing, abductions, forced recruitment, and rape.

"It is a stain on the conscience of humanity," said Amnesty chief Agnes Callamard in a statement.

RSF fighters burned homes long after residents had fled, the report said, "suggesting an intent to render the areas uninhabitable", consistent with "ethnic cleansing".

During the final RSF offensive on el-Fashir in October 2025, Amnesty said "hundreds were executed, and many others were tortured or detained" as they attempted to flee.

The report also noted violations happened "repeatedly and on a large scale", and suggested "those in positions of authority knew, or should have known, what was occurring, and failed to stop it or hold anyone accountable".

Amnesty International -- which stressed that its investigation into the incidents was ongoing -- also said such acts "may be relevant to the crime of genocide".

The international NGO urged an immediate ceasefire and deployment of an international force to protect civilians.

The report comes as the UN Human Rights Council held a debate over El-Obeid city in North Kordofan, where there are fears of an imminent RSF assault after weeks of intense attacks.

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Arab World

Israel Defense Minister Says Troops to Stay ‘Indefinitely’ in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza

Israeli soldiers drive in southern Lebanon as seen from northern Israel, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP)
Israeli soldiers drive in southern Lebanon as seen from northern Israel, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP)
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Israel Defense Minister Says Troops to Stay ‘Indefinitely’ in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza

Israeli soldiers drive in southern Lebanon as seen from northern Israel, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP)
Israeli soldiers drive in southern Lebanon as seen from northern Israel, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP)

Israel's defense minister said Wednesday that Israeli forces would remain in self-proclaimed "security zones" established in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza, without any timeline for withdrawal.

"The Israeli army will remain in the security zones in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza indefinitely in order to protect our residents and communities from jihadist elements," Israel Katz said.

"We will not withdraw from the security zones," Katz said at function held in honor of Israeli soldiers killed during the 2006 war in Lebanon.

Katz also reiterated an earlier warning to Iran, saying Tehran would be struck with "full force" if it attacked Israel over its operations in Lebanon.

Israel and Lebanon signed a US-sponsored framework agreement under US sponsorship on Friday to pave the way for peace between the two countries and disarm Iran-backed group Hezbollah.

Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have repeatedly ruled out withdrawing troops from southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces continue to clash with Hezbollah fighters.

They maintain that any troop withdrawal would happen only after Hezbollah has been disarmed across Lebanon.

Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war in early March with rocket fire aimed at Israel to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader in US-Israeli strikes.

Israel responded with massive airstrikes and a ground invasion of southern Lebanon.

According to Lebanon's health ministry, nearly 4,300 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since the war erupted.

The Israeli military says it has lost 38 soldiers and one civilian contractor in Lebanon since fighting began in early March.

Israel has also carried out repeated incursions and bombings in Syria since the overthrow of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad, saying it seeks to establish a demilitarized zone in the country's south.

In Gaza, Israeli forces occupy nearly 70 percent of the territory.

Both the Palestinian movement Hamas and the Israeli military accuse each other of violating the ceasefire, which has been in effect since October last year.

Arab World

Syria’s Sharaa Appoints Lawmakers, Paving Way for New Parliament to Convene

24 June 2026, Syria, Damascus: Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa receives Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp and Deputy Prime Minister David van Weel at the People's Palace in Damascus. (Syrian Presidency)
24 June 2026, Syria, Damascus: Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa receives Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp and Deputy Prime Minister David van Weel at the People's Palace in Damascus. (Syrian Presidency)
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Syria’s Sharaa Appoints Lawmakers, Paving Way for New Parliament to Convene

24 June 2026, Syria, Damascus: Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa receives Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp and Deputy Prime Minister David van Weel at the People's Palace in Damascus. (Syrian Presidency)
24 June 2026, Syria, Damascus: Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa receives Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp and Deputy Prime Minister David van Weel at the People's Palace in Damascus. (Syrian Presidency)

Syrian authorities announced the names of 70 lawmakers on Wednesday appointed to a transitional parliament by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, paving the way to convene the body next week more than eight months after the process of forming it began.

The 210-member chamber, two-thirds of which was chosen by regional electoral colleges last year, will wield limited power under a presidential ruling system established under Sharaa since he ousted Bashar al-Assad in 2024.

The People's Assembly will hold its first session on Monday, Mohamed Taha al-Ahmed, head of the Higher Judicial Committee for Parliamentary Elections, said during a news conference.

The formation of the new ‌parliament has been ‌seen as a test of Sharaa's promises of political inclusivity in ‌post-Assad Syria.

His ⁠appointees included 15 ⁠women, boosting to 21 the number of female lawmakers after last year's selection process resulted in only six being chosen.

Sharaa has previously said he ⁠would use his nominations to address imbalances in political representation that ‌emerged from last year's selection process, notably in the ‌representation of women.

Ahmed said the selection of lawmakers for the predominantly Druze province of Sweida had been postponed ‌until "conditions become suitable".

The area has remained outside state control since clashes with Druze there last July.

The overthrow of Assad ended more than five decades of iron-fisted rule by his family, during which parliament was seen as little more than a rubber stamp.

UN Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Claudio Cordone had told ‌the Security Council last week that the delay in forming the parliament was "generating anxiety".

The two-thirds of lawmakers chosen last year were ⁠selected by electoral bodies ⁠formed under a committee appointed by Sharaa.

Officials have said this system was necessary because years of war had left millions of Syrians displaced and made it impossible to rely on accurate population records or voter rolls for nationwide elections.

Critics of the process, including some Syrian political figures and civil society groups, say the electoral framework concentrates influence over the legislature in the presidency.

A temporary constitution introduced in March 2025 granted parliament limited powers. There is no requirement for the government to win a parliamentary vote of confidence.

The Assembly can propose and approve laws. Its term is 30 months, renewable. It assumes legislative authority until a permanent constitution is adopted and elections are organized.

Arab World

Source to Asharq Al-Awsat: 4 Issues at Cairo Talks Aim to Accelerate Gaza Ceasefire Implementation

Palestinian man uses a sledgehammer on the rubble of destroyed buildings near a displacement camp in Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip, on June 28, 2026. (AFP)
Palestinian man uses a sledgehammer on the rubble of destroyed buildings near a displacement camp in Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip, on June 28, 2026. (AFP)
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Source to Asharq Al-Awsat: 4 Issues at Cairo Talks Aim to Accelerate Gaza Ceasefire Implementation

Palestinian man uses a sledgehammer on the rubble of destroyed buildings near a displacement camp in Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip, on June 28, 2026. (AFP)
Palestinian man uses a sledgehammer on the rubble of destroyed buildings near a displacement camp in Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip, on June 28, 2026. (AFP)

Four “critical and decisive” issues are at the center of the latest round of Cairo-hosted negotiations aimed at accelerating the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire, according to a well-informed Egyptian source involved in the talks.

Israel has repeatedly violated the ceasefire announced last October, killing more than 1,000 Palestinians and assassinating senior Hamas leaders. Mediators led by Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye are seeking to preserve the agreement and move it into its next phases in an effort to restore calm to the enclave after nearly three years of war.

A Hamas delegation and representatives of other Palestinian factions arrived in Cairo on Tuesday.

The Egyptian source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the talks, expected to continue through Wednesday, build on negotiations launched last week and are intended to settle four key issues.

The first is the immediate launch of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, with priority at this stage given to its work rather than the issue of weapons of factions.

The second involves establishing the framework for weapons storage and reconciling proposals for both disarmament and storage. The third focuses on redefining the mandate of the Board of Peace, particularly with regard to the guarantees it can provide.

The fourth concerns coordination over the planned International Stabilization Force, with several countries having already dispatched delegations to discuss the initiative. The identities of participating states are expected to become clear soon.

The source acknowledged that differences remain over several issues, but said Nickolay Mladenov, the High Representative for the Board of Peace, could travel to Cairo if the talks continue to progress positively and recent amendments gain momentum.

He added that the most encouraging development is Hamas’ constructive approach, noting that its delegation has full authority to make decisions and is participating alongside other Palestinian factions.

The source also pointed to intensive diplomatic efforts to ensure the success of the Cairo talks, highlighting the presence of Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin in the Egyptian capital.

Egypt, Türkiye, and Qatar, he stressed, are coordinating to shield Hamas from pressure by other regional actors, including Iran, which has recently become more involved in the crisis, in an effort to speed up implementation of the Gaza agreement.

He continued that the immediate priority is completing the first phase of the ceasefire before moving to the second, which envisions the national committee assuming responsibilities in Gaza and the deployment of international forces.

By contrast, Israel remains focused on procedural matters, including compiling and classifying weapons inventories, while Arab mediators are pressing for agreement on the core political issues needed to enable international forces to assume their role.

Overall, the source described Hamas’ position as positive so far but remained skeptical that Israel would fully implement the agreement without further pressure from the US.

Hamas political adviser Taher al-Nunu said in a statement Tuesday that a delegation led by Zaher Jabarin had arrived in Cairo for meetings with Egyptian officials and mediators to continue implementing the ceasefire agreement.